OLD TRACTORS GOING STRONG

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I am enclosing a photograph of two of my gas tractors that I
still use in my farming operations. The first one is a 15-30 gear
drive McCormick-Deering that I bought new on November 4th, 1927.
Besides lots of belt work, it plowed 5,000 acres of ground the
first 10 years I owned it. In 1935, I installed new larger pistons
and sleeves (4? inches in diam.) that made it the 22-36 hp. size. I
had a fight with the I.H.C. Co. when I did this, as they said the
guarantee was all off the two ball bearing crankshaft, but it
proved all right and gave me about five more horsepower.

Also put their new variable speed governor on it, which was a
great improvement in doing all kinds of belt work. About that time
both front wheel spindles broke down just one day apart when
driving it fast on a hard gravel road nearly eight miles per hour.
The next year - 1936, it was put on rubber, and has its second set
now. In all of hundreds of barnyards and thousands of miles travel
doing belt work, it has never had a flat tire. I estimate it has
done 30,000 hours of work.

In February 1947, I installed a new 6 cyl. 250 cubic inch
(piston displacment) Dodge truck engine with electric starter. This
engine would not pull as much on a heavy load as the original, but
would do more work as it was speedier. At 1800 R.P.M., it developed
50 horsepower.

After 17 years use, this engine was still in pretty good
condition. I installed a used Chrysler 'Spitfire' 6 cyl.
265 cu. in. engine with higher compression that has proved very
satisfactory. This tractor has been used a lot every year since it
was new 41 years ago, or a little over half of my life time.

This photo was taken May 2nd, 1968 when plowing a 16 acre field
for soybeans that yielded 40 bushels per acre when combined in
October.

The second tractor in the photo is a 22-36 McCormick-Deering
that was used before I bought it nearly 20 years ago.

My two tractors plowing in May of 1968. See story (Old Tractors
Going Strong).

A close friend of mine, Charlie Harrison, of near Fredericktown,
Ohio found a nearly new International 6 cyl. 450 cu. in. Red
Diamond truck engine that had been condemned, in a junkyard and
sold it cheap to me. I repaired the engine and installed it in that
22-36 tractor 14 years ago, and it has proved very good and
powefrul.

At the National Threshers Reunion at Wauseon, Ohio, two years
ago last June, it developed seven HP. more than a new John Deere
4020 deisel, and at only 1700 R.P.M. It was put on dual rear tires
six years ago and is used about 50 days each year.

I also have three other tractors that I use in my farming
operations. An International W 40 that has a 6 cyl. 198 cu. in.
engine with high road gear. An International H. for light work and
cultivating, and a home assembled (doodlebug) from an International
truck frame and four cyl. Int. motor that I made in 1937, or nearly
32 years ago, In 1948, a new 236 cu. in. Dodge truck engine was
installed in this doodlebug, and is used quite a lot each year for
drilling small grain and soybeans.

I like these old tractors with their large roomy low down
platforms, and protective fenders, and wide front ends for easy
guiding. Some of the new tractors are so high up they could be
called 'Apple Pickers'.

6 Hp. Fairbanks Morse with 36' diameter flywheels as I found
it in Missouri this past summer. I have it running now.

Prairie Village when one is coming from the West. Big 4 Gas
Tractor owned by Milton and Roger Ayers of Madison, South Dakota.
Shingle Mill in operation at Thresher's Jamboree. Owned by
Milton and Roger Ayers.

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